Trailer hoist and coupler



' Aug.' l0 1926.

y vw. MAYER TRAILER HIST AND GOUPLER v Filed July 18. 1925` 3 Sheets-'Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 1o 1926.

w. MAYER 'TRAILER H'ols'r AND GOUPLER- Fild July 1 8-, 1925 :s sheets-sheet 5 J INVENTOR A WLZlzcmz Ma 6',"

a llllllllllllllllllllllllllllilik ATTORNEYS wxTNEssEs Ma/K a??? m 10 Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllll Patented Aug. l0, 1926.

j UNITED STAT/Es 1,595,902 PATENT-Mormon.

WILLIAM MAYER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TRAILER HOIST AND COUPLER.

Application `led J'uly 18,

only'during the hoisting operation;

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a trailerhoist and coupler wherein a single centrall positioned hoisting pin is provided an associated with certain parts whereby a proper support is provided" for the trailer which will allow a certain iexing and at the same time the pin is permitted to function either as an elevating member or as a connecting member.v

In the accompanying drawngs- Figure 1 is a side view of a trailer and part of a tractor with the preferred embodiment of the invention applied to the trailer and tractor.

Fi re`2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showlng the parts in a separated position ready for'the tractor to move away from the trailer. l

Figure 3 is .a fragmentary sectlonal view through Figure 1 online 3 8, the same be-v ing on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown i'n Figure 3.

YFigure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through Figure 2, approximately on line 5 5, y

Figure 6 isa view similar'to Figure 5 but showing the trailer lowered.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through Figure`5, approximately on line 7-7. l

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 5, approx1mately on line 8 8.

Figure 9 is a side view of the structure shown in 'Figure 8, the locking lever being omitted.

Figure 10 isa detail "sectional view through Figure 5,-approximately' on' line 10-10.

Figure 11 is adetailsectional view through Figure 5, approximately on line`11-11'.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a trailer and 2 a' tractor. The tractor and trailer may be of any desired construction in its general make 1925. serial 1ro. 44,518.

up but is provided with certain specific men'ibers whereby an improved hoist-and couplin structure is presented which embodies t e invention.- As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, a swinging rest 3 is provided adapted to support the front end of a trailer 1 when the same is not supported by the tractor 2. This rest may be of any desired.

structure and when not in use is swung to the position shown in Figure 1. Mounted on the trailer 1 are brackets 4 and 5, each bracket being provided with a cutawa portion 6 carryinga sliding journal box normally held in a, central position by the springs 8 and 9. A supporting circular plate `l() is carried by the respective boxes 7 through the use of yjournal pins 11 extending from the disk or plate 10. By this construction and arrangement, the disk or plate l0 may be rocked on the pins 11 and may be moved independently rearwardly or forwardly a short distance against the action of therespective springs Saand 9. This permit-s a slight free movement of the trailer 1 whereby diierent yirregularities in the road are easil taken ycare of.

As' indicate provided with an aperture 12, said aperture having -a rounded portion orshoulder 13. Co-acting with the disk or plate 10 is a second disk or plate 14 acting as a turntable and support. The turntable 14 is riveted or'otherwise rigidly secured to the tractor 2 and is provided with an aperture 15 through which the coupling head 16 is adapted to be moved. This coupling head merges into a c ouplin pin 17 having an annular groove 18.v Nhen Ithe parts are coupled together 'as shown in Figures 1 and 6, the lower art of the groove is preferably Hush with tlie upper part of .the .disk 10 whereby the locking- U-shaped member 19 (Figure 8) may be moved over into the groove 18 by the lever 2O ivotally mounted at 21 on-tho. plate 10. suita'ble pin 22 of any desired kind is fitted into a suitable aperture in the disk 10 kafter the lever 20 has moved the locking member 19 over into the locked 'position whereby the parts cannot accidentally become disengaged. When the U-shaped locking member 19 is in operative position, the tractor cannot become separatedfrom the trailer but the trailer may freely swing and also the rear end may move upV and down. Bolted or othewise rigidly secured to the turntable 14 is a box in Figure 5, the disk 1o is? second box or housing 24.

- the plate 10 and associated parts as shown or housing 23 and below this is arranged av Forming part of the box 23 is a central section 25 having a bore 26, said bore merging into suitable side grooves 27 adapted to fit the respective tongues or fianges28 extending from the head 16. By reason of this constructionand arrangement, the head 16 may vfreely move upwardly and downwardly but cannot' rotate. A screw member 29 is preferably rigidly connected with the head 16 and moves said head upwardly and downwardly through the action of :the worm gear 30l which has a central bore provided' withthreads accommodating-the threads on the screw member 29. A worm 31 continually meshes with the worm wheel 30, said worm. being rigidly connected with a sha-ft 32 "(Figure 1) carrying a sprocket 33I over which a chairr 34 passes.' Said chain also passes over a sprocket wheel 35 rigidly secured to the shaft 36. VIt will thus be seen that whenever shaft 36 is rotated, worm wheel 30 will be rotated and, consequently, the screw member 29 and head 16 will be raised or lowered according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 36. Thisaction will cause' the upper end of the head 16 to raise in Figure 5 or lower the same until the par-ts are in the position shown in Figure 6 or that shown in Figure 2, according to what is desired. It will be noted that the boxes 23 and 24 are in free communication and that the box 24 is completely filledwith oil and box 23 partially filled. A pipe 37 is provided as shown in Figure 6 which acts as a by-pass from the lower part of box 24 to a tubular member 38, said tubular member having a closed bottom. By reason of the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6,

- whenever the screw member 29 is moved y downwardly into the tubular member 38,

oil will be-Aforced therefrom through the ball bearings and also through by-pass 37 so that the worm gear 30 and associated parts will be well lubricated as well as the screw member 29. When the parts are moved upwardly to the dotted position shown'in Figure 5, the oil will gravitate or be drawn back into the tubular member l 38 and the lower partof the boxes 23 and 24. This back and forth movement of the oil keeps all the parts well lubricated and also permits certain parts to be continually operatingin o'l.

The shaft 36 is driven from the transmission or other driving mechanism 39 of the tractor 2. A shaft 40 extends from the mechanism 39. said shaft having a gear wheel 41 rigidly secured-thereto, said shaft 'being designed to be driven continually in the same direction. Preferably. the end of shaft 40 is squared as shown in Figure 3 so that the gear wheel 41 may freely slide thereon. In order to roduce a proper sliding movement, the bi urcated end 42 ofthe hand lever 43 straddles the shaft 40 whereby the gear wheel may be readily slid back and forth as desired. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1,. gear to said gear wheel and from thence to the gearwheel 45 rigidly secured to shaft 36. If it is desired to operate shaft36 in the opposite direction, gear wheel 41/is moved in the opposite direction until it meshes with the gear wheel-46 whereupon a proper driving action is made with the shaft 36. For instance, the upper end of lever 43 may be moved toward the front of the tractor whereupon shaft 36 will be. driven in such a direction as to raise the trailer 1. If it is` desired to lower the trailer 1, the'lever 43 `is moved toward the rear and the opposite connection will .be made whereas a vertical or central position will disconnect the various parts.

. What I claim is:

1. A trailer' hoist and coupler, comprising an apertured connecting member secured to a trailer, an apertured supporting member secured to a 'tractor and positioned to engage and support the connecting member of theA trailer, a pin carried adjacent said apertured supporting member, and means for vertically moving said pin so that it will project into the connecting member of the trailer for connecting the trailer with the tractor, said pin being also provided with shoulders for liftingthe trailer when the trailer is to be disconnected from the tractor.

2. In a trailer hoist and coupler, a coupler trailer,A journal pins extending from said` plate on diametricallvv opposite sides, a 4iournal box for receiving said pin, resilient means for allowing said journal box a limited back and forth movement, a coupling pin carried by said tractor, and means for raising and lowering said pin, said pin when raised fitting into the aperture in said plate whereby the trailer and tractor are connected together.

atea

t. lin a vtrailer hoist and coupler, a coupling pin ormedwith shoulders acting as hoisting members, means for raising and lowering said pin, an apertured plate co-acting .with said pin carried by the trailer, and means for pivotally mounting said plate on the trailer, said means including a horizontally yielding journal box whereby said plate may be slightly adjusted toqregister With the pin when the sameis brought therebeneath.

5L A trailer hoist and coupler, comprising an apertured supporting member carried by the trailer, Athe aperture in the supporting member 'being substantially centrally of the trailer, a' supporting plate carried by the tractor :formed With an aperture,'a combined coupling and hoist pin carried by the tractor and positioned to movethrough the aperture in said supporting plate and from thence into the aperture in the supporting member on the trailerfor connecting the trailer With the tractor, said pin being positioned on the tractor on a central longitudinal line thereof whereby the same Will readily register With the aperture in the supporting member on the trailer.`

V6. A trailer hoist and coupler` comprisinganapertured plate connected to the trailer, anapei'tured. plate connected to the tractor .adapted to be moved into line with the aper tured plate oi the trailer,

a vertically mov- Y tion at lable pin arranged to move vertically through the aperture in the apertured plate of the tractor so that part thereof will project into the apertured plate inthe trailer, said pin havinn a threaded section, a driving mechanism'` :tor driving said pin so as to move the same upwardly and downwardly vertically, said driving mechanism including a gear threaded onto said threaded section, means for preventing a vertieal movement of the gear Without interfering with its rotary movement, and means for actuating said gear.

7. lin a trailer hoist and coupler, an apertured plate connected to the trailer, an aper tured plate connected to the tractor7 guides connected to the last mentioned plate, a pin positioned to be guided by said guides and to move through the apertured plate on the tractor, said pin having a coupling projecone end and an elevating projection at the other end, means cri-acting with the elevating projection for causing the pin to be raised, saidpin being formed `with shoulders so that when it is raised the coupling projection will ht into the aperture the plate carried by the trailer and said shoul ders vvill engage said plate for elevating the pla-teand trailer.. 

